Arniko Prasad Yadav is a Nepal batting all-rounder who will play for Lumbini Lions in NPL Season 3. The 33-year-old, the oldest player in the squad, was bought for NPR 2 lakh at the July 2026 auction after a decade of domestic cricket with Madhesh Province. His March 2026 PM Cup displays won games with bat and ball, and he knows the league from five games for the Janakpur Bolts in 2024.
Yadav is the squad’s veteran depth, signed to cover two roles at once. His slow left-arm gives captain Rohit Paudel a like-for-like spin replacement without weakening the batting, and his left-handedness at seven or eight makes him a crisis option in the Nepal Premier League 2026.
About Arniko Prasad Yadav
Arniko Prasad Yadav is the Lumbini Lions' experienced all-round signing: a left-handed batting all-rounder from Bara, bought for NPR 2 lakh at the July 2026 auction. At 33, he is the oldest player in the Season 3 squad, with over a decade of domestic cricket behind him, most recently with Madhesh Province. His March 2026 PM Cup performances — winning games for Madhesh with bat and ball — made him the form pick of the auction's bargain section. He already knows the NPL: five recorded games for the Janakpur Bolts in 2024, including an unbeaten 11 in Qualifier 1 on 18 December and 2 for 16 against Sudurpaschim on 11 December.
Player details
| Full name | Arniko Prasad Yadav |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 17 May 1993 |
| Birthplace | Bara, Nepal |
| Country | Nepal |
| Playing role | Batting all-rounder |
| Batting style | Left-hand bat |
| Bowling style | Slow left-arm orthodox |
Playing style and strengths
Yadav is a genuine two-skill cricketer: a left-handed batter who can clear the infield late in an innings, and a slow left-arm orthodox bowler tidy enough to bowl full four-over spells. The unbeaten 11 in a 2024 playoff and the 2 for 16 against Sudurpaschim show both skills functioning under knockout pressure.
His bowling is the containing kind — flat, accurate, aimed at the stumps — which suits the middle overs when Rohit Paudel wants to protect Sher Malla and Abhishesh Gautam for specific match-ups. With the bat he is a lower-middle-order option whose left-handedness gives the Lions a point of difference late in an innings otherwise dominated by right-handers.
Arniko Prasad Yadav's role at Lumbini Lions in Season 3
Yadav is the squad's veteran depth: the oldest player in the group, signed to cover two roles at once. If the left-arm spin of Gautam or Chauhan is unavailable or misfiring, his slow left-arm gives Paudel a like-for-like replacement without weakening the batting — a flexibility no other spinner in the squad offers.
With the bat he slots at seven or eight, where his left-handedness and playoff experience make him a useful crisis option. He is also, by age and mileage, a natural mentor for the squad's youngsters — Aakash Tripathi, Tilak Bhandari and Durgesh Gupta. At NPR 2 lakh, the Lions have bought a decade of domestic know-how for the price of a net bowler.
Arniko Prasad Yadav at NPL 2026
Season-by-season Nepal Premier League figures for Arniko Prasad Yadav.
| Season | Team | Matches | Runs | HS | Avg | Wkts | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NPL 2024 (Season 1) | Janakpur Bolts | 5 recorded (league + playoffs) | Not fully published | 11* (Qualifier 1, 18 Dec) | Not publicly available | Not fully published | 2/16 (vs Sudurpaschim, 11 Dec) |
| NPL 2025 (Season 2) | Janakpur Bolts | Squad member | Not publicly available | Not publicly available | Not publicly available | Not publicly available | Not publicly available |
| NPL 2026 (Season 3) | Lumbini Lions | Season not yet played | — | — | — | — | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which NPL team does Arniko Prasad Yadav play for?
Arniko Prasad Yadav plays for the Lumbini Lions in NPL Season 3 (2026). He played for the Janakpur Bolts in 2024 and 2025.
What was Arniko Prasad Yadav’s auction price?
The Lions bought him for NPR 2 lakh at the July 6, 2026 mini-auction.
What is Arniko Prasad Yadav’s playing role?
He is a batting all-rounder: a left-hand batter who bowls slow left-arm orthodox.
When was Arniko Prasad Yadav born?
Arniko Prasad Yadav was born on 17 May 1993 in Bara, Nepal.
Sources
Cricnepal: Arniko Yadav player profile: date of birth 17 May 1993, Bara, left-hand bat, slow left-arm orthodox, Madhesh Province, batting allrounder; March 2026 PM Cup reports of anchoring Madhesh to a five-wicket win over Sudurpaschim and guiding Madhesh past Karnali.
IndiaCricketSchedule: NPL 2026 squads: July 6 2026 mini-auction, Lumbini Lions signings.
Lumbini Lions team page: the Season 3 squad table on this site, with listing status, roles and auction prices (NPR 2 lakh).
nplt20league.com: Arniko Prasad Yadav player profile: NPL season-by-season figures and career records used in this page’s tables.
Follow Lumbini Lions
Lumbini Lions squad lists each player’s Season 3 listing and role.